I woke up from a sad dream and felt a combo of worn out and sad. I had some GI issues but no cramps or pain, and again figured it was a combination of the sun, heat, social interactions, and triggering meals, topped off with champagne. Whatever the reasons, it was clear that my histamine bucket was full.
It was supposed to rain today, which I was pumped for, but instead it was hot and cloudy. At 10:30 we went to the Burren Birds of Prey Centre for our hawk walk!! Our guide was Declan, a very nice guy with long, curly, red hair. He introduced us to Sinead and Al Pacino, our two Harris hawks.
It was so cool! We walked through beautiful woods covered in ivy for an hour while the birds flew around us, landed on our gloves, and caught pieces of chicken. Al would squeak adorably to beg for food. Sinead, the female, was dominant, so would often steal Al's food or perch. Al would hide his food when he was eating (called "mantling"). We also saw some native birds, including an adorable warbler, and a badger's den and fox poop. Not a bad way to start the morning!
After the walk, we stayed to see the other birds at the centre and watched the noon show. I got to pet Batty (the bateleur eagle I'd befriended in college -- we nicknamed him "Cher bird" for obvious reasons...) when we saw James (someone from town who I knew in college) on his way to the show. He's now getting married to someone he met at BCA eight years ago!
We then went on a tour of the Aillwee cave, which was pretty cool but not amazing. It was chilly and musty inside and something in me snapped a little. It wasn't very distinct like a headache or stomach ache -- just general fatigue, malaise, melancholy, and starvation. By
the time we left and found our way the the Burren Fine Wine and Food, a place I'd been really excited to visit, all I wanted was to lie down and cry. I pushed myself to eat (which I later regretted) a red wine and chocolate beef stew, and then laid in the back seat of the car while Dan ate his meal.
When I was feeling a little better, we went to say goodbye to the college, at which point I curled up in the grass and cried pretty hard.
I spent six years horribly missing that place, and I had to leave it again. I miss who I was, how free my life was, and not having to plan everything around illness. I was full, complete, unbroken. Leaving the college made me feel like I had to go back to the life of tracking everything I eat and do, having to limit myself so I don't crash. I found myself grieving all of the losses I've faced in the last six years because of the stupid trifecta of illness.
When I finally had gotten it all out of my system, we went to the Tea Rooms and Garden for afternoon tea. It turns out there's an awesome lunch menu! I'd been there for tea once, but never for a meal and never in the garden. We wished we hadn't eaten lunch already. The garden was cute, but probably much more beautiful when the flowers aren't all dying of thirst.
Before dinner at L'Arco, we walked up my old running route -- past the cottage where my parents stayed, to the second pier. The mountain was no longer green so the view was disappointing, but still really nice.
At dinner, Dan got a delicious wine (rare praise from me) and pasta with clams, shrimp, and muscles. I got pasta (really good and freshly made!) with fresh mozzarella and delicious tomatoes! Sure they were the first tomatoes I've had in over a year, but I think they were even especially good for someone not deprived.
After dinner, we said goodbye to Thatch 15, my old house, and to Ballyvaughan itself, and went home. I felt pretty worn out and went to bed early.
